Plug receptacle



Nov. 26, 1940. e. B. BENANDER PLUG RECEPTACLE Filed Nov. 30, 1938 In ventor: George B. Benander, 4; 5

His Attomgg; I

Patented Nov. '26, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE-j 2,222,191 PLUG RECEPTACLE George B. Benander, Oaklawn, It. 1., assignor to Monowatt Electric Corporation, a corporation of Rhode Island Application November 30, 1938, Serial No. 243,179 1 Claim. (01. 173334) This invention relates to plug receptacles, and

at low cost.

In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a plan view of the device; Fig. 2 is a sectional view 15 through the device showing the manner of connecting the contact elements in position; and Fig. 3 is a view of the interior of the device with the cover removed showing the arrangement of the elements within the housing. 39 Referring to the drawing, the plug receptacle is formed with a housing in of insulating material such as a phenolic condensation product, or the like, and the housing is provided with a recess H closed by a cover l2. The housing is of 25 elongated rectangular formation and is formed with a plurality of pairs of openings 68 spaced in a line longitudinally of the housing and which are adapted to receive the contact prongs of the conventional plug connector. In order to center so the plug prongs within the receptacle openings, the openings are surrounded by recesses M such as are customary in this type of plug receptacle. The housing is formed with transverse decorative a plurality of electric appliances.

As shown more particularly by Figs. 2 and 3, two contact strips I 5 are. located within the re- 49 cess H and are disposed in opposed relationship for cooperation with the respective pairs of openings l3. An electric cord I6 is brought within the recess through the opening ii in the end of the body and the conductors of the cord are 45 connected to each of the the recesses, relief means to absorb pulls and twists on the conducting cord.

5 The contacts l are formed of elongated fiat metal strips and are of resilient material such as spring bronze. Each of the strips is formed with an intermediate bowed portion 28 and the strips are likewise bowed at their ends, as shown 5 at 2|. Each bowed portion or the strip is provided with a projecting flange or lip 22 forming a contact means which is normally placed in alignment with the corresponding opening I3 for engagement by the contact prong of a plug connector as it is inserted through the opening I3. 5 The fiat portions 23 of the contact strips inter- 28 which rest in the openings 25. strips are mounted on the bosses simply by forccontact strips which is low in cost because no separate securing means is necessary. The bosses 24 are simply molded integrally with the housing It.

In order to guide the contact prongs of an 35 electric plug into engagement with the respective contact means upon their insertion through the openings iii, a plurality of ribs or guiding means are located adjacent the openings. In the case of the center pair of openings, projections 29 30 extend from the wall of the recess to a point in alignment with the outer edges of the corresponding openings I 3, and in the case of the end pairs of openings, U-shaped members 30 are provided upstanding from the base of the recess with the arms 3! oi the U in alignment with the outer edges of the corresponding openings It. The base of the U surrounds the ends of the contact strips and insulates them from the remaining portions of the recess. In this manner the conductors of the cord It are prevented from rubbing against the ends of the contact strips and possibly causing a short circuit.

of the U-shaped members so that they are free to flex readily upon engagement with the connecting prongs of a plug connector. Each of the U-shaped members position to close the recess I I.

According to the invention the contact strips are held securely within the recess by virtue of In a plug receptacle for use with a plurality their frictional tit with the bosses 24, and there or electric plugs having spaced contact prongs,

' is no danger or the contact elements becoming the combination or an elongated base of insulatdislodged or short circuited such as would be the ing material having a recess therein, said base case it they were simply disposed in slots in the being provided with three pairs of opposed open- 5 body member. The bowed portions 2| and Ii ings, the openings or each pair being spaced apart of theoontwt 9 p v e 8 fl e nt in a distance corresponding to the spacing of the means which make good electrical contact with plug prongs, each pair being spaced apart in line the prongs ot the plug connecto and the strips and extending through the bottom of said recess.

flex about the fixed supports 24. When the cona pair or iiat elongated contact strips located in 1 h r pr ngs are inserted in the openinls 3 opposed relation within said recess, each of said they first engage the flanges or lips I! of the trips being provided with bowed portions having contact members and flex these me bers contact surfaces in alignment with said openings wardly so that the prone; are seated between the and flat portions between said bowed portions, arms 3i and projections 10 and the contact membosses in id recess intermediate said pairs or here. Not only do the arms I! and pmie nl openings, the flat portions or said strips having 2 u e t e on tor prongs into engagem n a frictional nt with each or said bosses and being with the contact means, but they serve to steady spaced rt thereon a i t n less than t he conn t r plu W h the r p l 7 e spacing of said openings to secure them rigidly 888 8 he s ac 01 the M 1 8 which are to said base, and means adjacent each opening away fr m h c n l' p TWO 0011M A i" guiding the prongs or an electric plug as they serve all 0! the pairs f openin and r a are inserted into' any of said pairs of openings simple and eiifective contact means or engaging mm engagement with the corresponding contact plug connectors which may be tapped into any rfa e one or all of the openings.

whatlclaimasnewenddesiretosecureby Letters Patent oi the United States, is:

GEORGE B. BENANDER. 

